BOATERS SAFETY PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
A boat's capacity plate gives the maximum weight and/or number of people the boat can
carry safely in certain weather conditions. What are these conditions?
rainy weather
weather with winds up to 76 knots
weather with winds up to 154 knots
good weather - Answers - good weather
You file a float plan for a weekend trip. Which of these should be included in the plan?
your boat's horsepower rating
onboard location of food and cooking utensils
names and addresses of your passengers
chart showing planing speed vs. fuel use - Answers - names and addresses of your
passengers
What should you do with your float plan for a weekend water outing?
Mail it to your home address.
Stow it with the boat's registration papers.
Fax it to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard station.
Leave it with a friend or relative. - Answers - Leave it with a friend or relative.
Where should portable gasoline fuel tanks be filled?
in the boat's cabin
in the boat's cockpit
on the dock
on the gunwale - Answers - on the dock
Which fueling practice is safe?
fueling your boat at night when it is cooler
filling portable fuel tanks on the fuel dock
turning on the boat's ventilation system while fueling
opening all windows, ports, doors, and other openings before fueling - Answers - filling
portable fuel tanks on the fuel dock
What factor determines a boat's required equipment?
,storage capacity
rate of speed
fuel tank weight
length of boat - Answers - length of boat
What is the problem with using your boat's engine to drive it onto a trailer?
You may break the winch cable.
You may damage the engine.
The boat's forward motion can disconnect the trailer lights.
The propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp. - Answers - The
propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp.
How full should you fill the fuel tank on a PWC?
Leave a little empty space in the tank.
Fill the tank all the way up.
Tip the PWC to top off the fuel tank.
Overfill slightly to avoid any air pocket. - Answers - Leave a little empty space in the
tank.
When moored to a dock, what should you do before casting off while you warm up the
engine?
Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
Use an oar or boat hook to keep the boat moving in the water.
Shift into forward gear.
Raise the engine out of the water. - Answers - Make sure everyone on board is wearing
a life jacket.
Which side of a boat has a green light at night?
gunwale
starboard (right)
stern
keel - Answers - starboard (right)
Which vessel should display yellow lights when towing?
PWC
sailboat
ski boat
commercial vessel - Answers - commercial vessel
You are operating a powerboat at night. Your green sidelight must be visible to boats
approaching from which direction(s)?
, head-on only
port (left) only
head-on and starboard (right)
head-on and behind - Answers - head-on and starboard (right)
You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on another boat.
What do these lights tell you?
A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way.
A sailing vessel is crossing your path, and you must swerve to avoid it.
You must give way to the other vessel.
You are the stand-on vessel. - Answers - You must give way to the other vessel.
What is the best source for a complete listing of navigation rules that apply to
recreational boaters?
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Game Commission
U.S. Wildlife Federation - Answers - U.S. Coast Guard
Two powerboats are about to cross paths. What should the boat on the starboard (right)
do?
Speed up to cross in front of the other boat.
Speed up and turn toward the other boat.
Maintain course and speed, but stay alert.
Shoot a flare and sound a danger signal on a horn or whistle. - Answers - Maintain
course and speed, but stay alert.
A sailboat and a PWC are meeting head-on. Which one is the stand-on vessel?
sailboat
PWC
neither
both - Answers - sailboat
One boat is overtaking another. Which boat must give way?
the faster boat
the larger boat
the boat that is overtaking
the boat being overtaken - Answers - the boat that is overtaking
ANSWERS
A boat's capacity plate gives the maximum weight and/or number of people the boat can
carry safely in certain weather conditions. What are these conditions?
rainy weather
weather with winds up to 76 knots
weather with winds up to 154 knots
good weather - Answers - good weather
You file a float plan for a weekend trip. Which of these should be included in the plan?
your boat's horsepower rating
onboard location of food and cooking utensils
names and addresses of your passengers
chart showing planing speed vs. fuel use - Answers - names and addresses of your
passengers
What should you do with your float plan for a weekend water outing?
Mail it to your home address.
Stow it with the boat's registration papers.
Fax it to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard station.
Leave it with a friend or relative. - Answers - Leave it with a friend or relative.
Where should portable gasoline fuel tanks be filled?
in the boat's cabin
in the boat's cockpit
on the dock
on the gunwale - Answers - on the dock
Which fueling practice is safe?
fueling your boat at night when it is cooler
filling portable fuel tanks on the fuel dock
turning on the boat's ventilation system while fueling
opening all windows, ports, doors, and other openings before fueling - Answers - filling
portable fuel tanks on the fuel dock
What factor determines a boat's required equipment?
,storage capacity
rate of speed
fuel tank weight
length of boat - Answers - length of boat
What is the problem with using your boat's engine to drive it onto a trailer?
You may break the winch cable.
You may damage the engine.
The boat's forward motion can disconnect the trailer lights.
The propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp. - Answers - The
propeller's wash can create a large hole just beyond the ramp.
How full should you fill the fuel tank on a PWC?
Leave a little empty space in the tank.
Fill the tank all the way up.
Tip the PWC to top off the fuel tank.
Overfill slightly to avoid any air pocket. - Answers - Leave a little empty space in the
tank.
When moored to a dock, what should you do before casting off while you warm up the
engine?
Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.
Use an oar or boat hook to keep the boat moving in the water.
Shift into forward gear.
Raise the engine out of the water. - Answers - Make sure everyone on board is wearing
a life jacket.
Which side of a boat has a green light at night?
gunwale
starboard (right)
stern
keel - Answers - starboard (right)
Which vessel should display yellow lights when towing?
PWC
sailboat
ski boat
commercial vessel - Answers - commercial vessel
You are operating a powerboat at night. Your green sidelight must be visible to boats
approaching from which direction(s)?
, head-on only
port (left) only
head-on and starboard (right)
head-on and behind - Answers - head-on and starboard (right)
You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red and white lights on another boat.
What do these lights tell you?
A power-driven vessel is approaching head-on, but you have the right of way.
A sailing vessel is crossing your path, and you must swerve to avoid it.
You must give way to the other vessel.
You are the stand-on vessel. - Answers - You must give way to the other vessel.
What is the best source for a complete listing of navigation rules that apply to
recreational boaters?
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Game Commission
U.S. Wildlife Federation - Answers - U.S. Coast Guard
Two powerboats are about to cross paths. What should the boat on the starboard (right)
do?
Speed up to cross in front of the other boat.
Speed up and turn toward the other boat.
Maintain course and speed, but stay alert.
Shoot a flare and sound a danger signal on a horn or whistle. - Answers - Maintain
course and speed, but stay alert.
A sailboat and a PWC are meeting head-on. Which one is the stand-on vessel?
sailboat
PWC
neither
both - Answers - sailboat
One boat is overtaking another. Which boat must give way?
the faster boat
the larger boat
the boat that is overtaking
the boat being overtaken - Answers - the boat that is overtaking
